News

Design Architects of Kent State’s New Architecture Building Present Update on Jan. 16

Posted Jan. 13, 2014

Pictured is a rendering of the new facility for Kent State
University's College of Architecture and Environmental
Design. The design architects will present an update on
the design evolution of the building on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
in University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall.

Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi of WEISS/MANFREDI, the design architects of Kent State University’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design new facility, will be on the Kent Campus to present an update on the design evolution of the building. The presentation takes place Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in University Auditorium at Cartwright Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The original building design was selected through a competition conducted in 2013 which resulted in the architect selection – WEISS/MANFREDI, lead designer, and Richard L. Bowen & Associates, architect of record – and the determination of the building concept to be located along the Lester A. Lefton Esplanade between South Lincoln and Willow streets. The building will physically and metaphorically represent the connection between the city of Kent and the university campus.

The focus of the presentation will outline the evolution of a design, detailing how multiple sources of input, including programmatic, community context, financial parameters and reviews by numerous oversight groups, actually evolved the facility to be more functional, efficient, sustainable and economical without losing the original concept. Participants will include representatives of the design architect, the architect of record, the university architect, the user and the construction manager.

“The design architects at WEISS/MANFREDI have listened to many inputs from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the Office of the University Architect, the university's Joint Project Oversight Committee, which is a joint board-administration committee, the construction manager and the community,” says Douglas Steidl, dean of Kent State’s College of Architecture and Environmental Design. “They have reviewed all program requirements, including the addition of the spaces to be used by the Construction Management program. Through their creative design process, they have been able to reduce the size of the building through efficiencies in circulation, reduced the height by a story, and amazingly did not lose the character or concept of the initial competition design. This developed schematic design improves upon the initial competition building.

“This is an ongoing design process which does not end until the construction is complete, therefore revisions and enhancements should be expected as we all strive to construct the best facility possible,” Steidl adds.

“We continue to be impressed with the WEISS/MANFREDI team,” says Michael Bruder, executive director of facilities planning and design in Kent State’s Office of the University Architect. “They continually work to satisfy our programmatic needs while providing an iconic gateway building for the campus.”

The new architecture and environmental design building is part of the university’s campus transformation, called “Foundations of Excellence: Building the Future,” which involves the construction of new buildings, facility upgrades and establishment of dynamic, new spaces. The goal of this initiative is to create the most outstanding academic experience for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater community enriched by the university.

Currently, these signature programs are housed in three separate structures. The new building will unite the college under one roof. The university plans to break ground for the building this fall.